Looks like the record industry's efforts to put copy protection on their CDs may be illegal. According to a CNET news report, a 1992 law allows consumers to make personal copies of music, in return, the record labels get a few cents for each blank, recordable CD sold.

On Friday, Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Va., sent a letter to executives of the recording industry's trade association, asking whether anti-piracy technology on CDs might override consumers' abilities to copy albums they have purchased for personal use.

A 1992 law allows music listeners to make some personal digital copies of their music. In return, recording companies collect royalties on the blank media used for this purpose. For every digital audio tape (DAT), blank audio CD, or minidisc sold, a few cents go to record labels.

"I am particularly concerned that some of these technologies may prevent or inhibit consumer home-recording using recorders and media covered by the" Audio Home Recording Act (AHRA), Boucher wrote. "Any deliberate change to a CD by a content owner that makes (the allowed personal copies) no longer possible would appear to violate the content owner's obligations."

I must admit that I do not like the copy-protection idea, simply because I like having my music available at my fingertips on my computer. It's also nice for a backup if I lose a CD. Which has happened a couple of times. I've got copies on my computer, so I can burn a new one.